Nicolás Lodeiro

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lodeiro and the second or maternal family name is Benítez.

Nicolás Lodeiro

Lodeiro playing for Uruguay in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez
Date of birth	(1989-03-21) 21 March 1989
Place of birth	Paysandú, Uruguay
Height
Position(s)	Attacking Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Boca Juniors
Number	14
Youth career
	Barrio Obrero
2003–2007	Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2010	Nacional	43	(9)
2010–2012	Ajax	21	(2)
2012–2014	Botafogo	47	(7)
2014–2015	Corinthians	7	(0)
2015–	Boca Juniors	21	(3)
International career‡
2008–2009	Uruguay U20	11	(5)
2009–	Uruguay	42	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 November 2015

Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez (Spanish pronunciation: [nikoˈlaz loˈðeiɾo]; born 21 March 1989), commonly known as Nicolás Lodeiro, is a Uruguayan footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Argentine club Boca Juniors and the Uruguay national team.

Lodeiro has played professionally in Uruguay, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Argentina, winning the Eredivisie in both of his seasons at Ajax, and winning the domestic double in 2015 with Boca Juniors.

A full international since 2009, Lodeiro has earned over 40 caps for Uruguay. He was part of the teams which came fourth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and won the 2011 Copa América.

Club career

Early career

Lodeiro was born in 1989 in Paysandú, which borders Argentina. It was here that he made his first steps as a footballer in the youth sides of local club Barrio Obrero. It wasn't too long before his talent was recognised by a local scout called Daniel López who nurtured him to play for the youth team at Nacional Montevideo aged only 14 years old.

Nacional

Four years later, at the age of 18, Lodeiro made his debut for the Nacional first team against Fénix on 19 August 2007. Later on in the year he also scored his first senior goal and it was clear to see that in Lodeiro, there was a new star in the making.

A year later, Lodeiro continued to make progress, securing more playing time and even scored against River Plate in the Pre-Libertadores playoff. But 2009 was the year that Lodeiro really began to make progress. His three goals and several assists in the Copa Libertadores helped Nacional to reach the semi finals of the tournament. In April 2009 he was named 58th highest scorer in the world by the IFFHS following his performance in the Copa Libertadores

Lodeiro played a vital role for Nacional in the 2008/2009 Copa Libertadores, which saw Nacional reach the Semi-finals. From then on, Lodeiro has been considered one of the best youth players in the country.

Lodeiro is well known for his ability to glide past players with ease, due to his speed, close control and dribbling ability. He is also a very energetic player and his fitness ensures excellent movement on the pitch. Lodeiro likes to come towards a player in order to receive the ball and subsequently take control of play. However, he also likes to move wide towards the flanks and can often be found on both sides of the pitch and operating in the middle during the course of the same game. Lodeiro is two footed but has a particularly lethal left foot shot and is dangerous from free kicks.

Ajax

In January 2010, Lodeiro signed a contract with AFC Ajax until June 2012 with option of 2 more years. He joined his fellow Uruguayans Bruno Silva and his friend Luis Suárez at Ajax. His first appearance for Ajax was as a substitute in the match against FC Twente on 7 February 2010. He marked his first goal against Go Ahead Eagles with Ajax on 25 March in the KNVB Beker. Because of an injury he sustained during the World Cup he didn't play a single match for Ajax in the 2010/2011 Eredivisie season. He did however make 19 appearances for Ajax the following season, scoring twice in the regular season, and once against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, all while helping Ajax to win their 31st league title.

Botafogo

On 20 July 2012 it was announced that Botafogo had signed Lodeiro to a four year contract, taking the young midfielder over to Rio de Janeiro from AFC Ajax for an undisclosed fee. He was a key part of the squad that won the Campeonato Carioca in 2013 and qualified Botafogo for the 2014 Copa Libertadores after 18 years absent of the tournament. During his time with Botafogo, Lodeiro was part of Uruguay's 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.

Corinthians

On May 29, 2014, Lodeiro signed a four-year deal with Corinthians, for a R$4.5 million fee.

Boca Juniors

In 2015, Lodeiro signed with Argentinian club Boca Juniors. In September 2015, Lodeiro scored against River Plate in the Superclásico. On 4 November 2015, Lodeiro scored a penalty in the 2015 Copa Argentina Final helping Boca defeat Rosario Central 2–0, and secure their domestic double.

International career

Youth

During 2009, Lodeiro also progressed on the international scene with good performances for the Uruguay under-20 national team. This included outstanding performances at a South American under-20 tournament in Venezuela where he scored three goals and led Uruguay to third place. He also contributed impressively at the FIFA under-20 tournament in Egypt, scoring two goals in four matches.

Senior

His senior international debut for Uruguay came against Costa Rica, in the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup Play-Off. He played both legs of the play-off and, in the second leg at home, was named player of the match for Uruguay.

2010 FIFA World Cup

Lodeiro at the World Cup.

Lodeiro played for Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and, in Uruguay's opening match against France, was the first player to receive a red card at the tournament.

2011 Copa América

Lodeiro was a member of the Uruguay national team that won the 2011 Copa América in Argentina.

Career statistics

Club

As of November 5, 2015.

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Uruguay			League		Cup		South America		–		Total
2007–08	Nacional	Primera División	15	0	-	-	0	0	-	-	15	0
2008–09			20	2	-	-	10	4	-	-	30	6
2009–10			8	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	7
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
2009–10	Ajax	Eredivisie	8	0	2	1	-	-	-	-	10	1
2010–11			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2011–12			13	2	1	0	5	1	-	-	19	3
Brazil			League		Copa do Brasil		South America		State League		Total
2012	Botafogo	Série A	18	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	19	3
2013			26	5	8	1	0	0	16	8	50	14
2014			3	0	0	0	8	0	5	0	16	0
2014	Corinthians	Série A	7	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
Argentina			League		Copa Argentina		South America		–		Total
2015	Boca Juniors	Primera División	21	3	5	2	5	1	-	-	31	6
Total	Uruguay		43	9	-	-	10	4	0	0	53	13
	Netherlands		21	2	3	1	5	1	0	0	29	4
	Brazil		54	7	9	1	9	1	21	8	93	17
	Argentina		21	3	5	2	5	1	-	-	31	6
Career total			139	21	17	4	29	7	21	8	206	40

International

As of 5 November 2015.

Uruguay national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2009	2	0
2010	5	0
2011	5	1
2012	2	0
2013	10	2
2014	11	?
2015	7	?
Total	42	3

International goals

Olympic team

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	26 July 2012	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	United Arab Emirates	2–1	2–1 (W)	2012 Olympics Games

National team

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1.	23 June 2011	Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera, Rivera, Uruguay	Estonia	3–0	3–0	Friendly
2.	23 June 2013	Itaipava Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil	Tahiti	5–0	8–0	2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
3.	13 November 2013	Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan	Jordan	0-3	0-5	2014 World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Nacional

• Primera División (1): 2008–09
• Torneo Apertura (2): 2008, 2009
• Liguilla (1): 2008

Ajax

• Eredivisie (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• KNVB Cup (1): 2009–10

Botafogo

• Campeonato Carioca (1): 2013

Boca Juniors

• Primera División (1): 2015
• Copa Argentina (1): 2014–15

International

Uruguay

• Copa América: 2011

External links

• Official website
• Player profile (Spanish)
• Nicolás Lodeiro at ESPN FC
• Detailed Player Profile (Spanish)
• Nicolás Lodeiro at Soccerway